All posts filed under: literature

There’s something special about the Footscray Community Arts Centre. I have only recently been introduced to this organisation, but its reputation as one of the country’s leading community-based contemporary arts centres precedes it by a mile. When I finally made it there for the centre’s recent 40th birthday celebration, I found an inclusive, unpretentious gathering place for west Melbourne’s multicultural arts community — the sort of place where everyone seemed to know everyone. Its lovely riverside location is just an added sweetener. If you haven’t yet had the opportunity to visit the FCAC, this Saturday is the perfect opportunity. The West Writers Our Stories Forum will feature panel discussions, presentations, launches, workshops and story walks, including a 1.5-hour workshop with award-winning author Christos Tsiolkas (The Slap, Loaded), a panel chaired by The Lifted Brow‘s editor-in-chief Sam Cooney, live performances by Still Nomads and the launch of Ascension Magazine. The event aims to examine the significance of stories in Australia’s diverse communities, and how this diversity is represented in the country’s literary scene. The forum runs …

As we inch towards spring, we also approach another major event on Melbourne’s calendar: the annual Melbourne Writers Festival. This year brings a number of big names to Melbourne, including Booker-of-Bookers winner Salman Rushdie; astronaut, writer and social media phenomenon Chris (‘Good morning, Earth’) Hadfield; and Australian author Helen Garner (delivering the opening night address). There will be discussions, workshops, book launches, exhibitions and more happening over the festival’s ten days, with a bunch of free events in the mix. Check out the full programme here. MWF events often sell out fast, so if you’re keen on a particular event it’s a good idea to book early. I always get a bit huffy at the absurd cost of some of these events (if you want to see Rushdie do his thing you’ll have to fork out $130) — there’s no doubt these prices exclude an enormous section of the community. But most events are reasonably priced at around $22 (full) / $19 (concession). Ladies and gentlemen, the countdown is on. You’re in a City of …

Last Saturday, a brand spankin’ new paper hit Melbourne’s newsstands. The Saturday Paper, produced by Black Inc owner Morry Schwartz (of The Quarterly Essay and The Monthly fame), promises to dedicate itself to quality narrative journalism and offer ‘the biggest names and best writing in news, culture, and analysis, with a particular focus on Australia’. Its editor is Erik Jensen, a 25-year-old former Fairfax journalist who apparently shares Schwartz’s passion for print media. When I walked into my local newsagent on the weekend to buy a copy of the first edition, they had all sold out. For the paper’s sake, I hope my disappointment was repeated many times over. In this gloomy age of crumbling newspapers, it would be lovely to see this new project fly. A full yearly subscription to The Saturday Paper — which includes print edition home delivery, iPad and iPhone apps, and full online access — will cost you $99; a six-month subscription is $69.95. For a taste of the sort of content on offer, you can read three articles for free per week at The Saturday Paper‘s website. …

One of the occupational hazards of being a writer is loneliness. It is not, unfortunately, the most social of activities, so I’m sure the writers of Melbourne are thanking their stars for the good folk at Melbourne Literary Salon, who have set up a monthly meet-and-mingle event for Melbourne’s literary crowd. The Salon is open to all storyteller types — producers, animators, journalists, illustrators, editors, novelists. Held in Loop Bar in the CBD, the event is designed to be a casual affair, with established professionals mingling with literary fledglings. For more info about the Salon and what to expect, check out the MLS blog. The very first Melbourne Literary Salon of 2014 will be held tonight, starting at 6pm. If you can’t make this evening’s event, the next Salon will be held on the first Tuesday of next month. To keep up to date with the MLS happenings, ‘like’ their Facebook page here. Melbourne Literary Salon When: First Tuesday of every month Time: 6pm Venue: Loop Bar Address: 23 Meyers Place, Melbourne

Shaun Tan is one of Australia’s most talented visual storytellers. His illustrated storybooks and graphic novels are nuanced, intriguing and moving, and often explore complex and challenging themes (even those created for children). To describe Tan as a children’s storyteller is limiting — his books go well beyond any age barriers. In fact, his 2006 wordless graphic novel The Arrival was named both ‘Book of the Year’ at the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards as well as ‘Picture Book of the Year’ by the Children’s Book Council of Australia. In 2010, Tan was asked to direct a short animated film based on his 2000 book The Lost Thing. The film went on to win the Oscar for Best Animated Short. Here’s the trailer: Recently I stumbled across a small exhibition about The Lost Thing and its cinema adaptation at ACMI. The exhibition features original drawings by the author as well as interviews with the filmmakers describing the production process. The film is also showing here in a small nook next to the main exhibits. The exhibition is really worth …

Books are expensive in Australia — too expensive for many people to afford to buy them regularly. There are complex reasons for this, which, for an economics dummy like me, are difficult to understand. In a nutshell, it seems publishers’ production costs in Australia are higher than in, say, the USA, and local copyright laws prohibit Australian booksellers from ‘parallel importing’ — importing the same books at cheaper prices. A few years ago, the government considered scrapping these restrictions, but finally decided against it. There was much debate about the pros and cons of parallel importing — see these articles by Jeremy Fisher, Michael Wilding and Matthia Dempsey. Having worked as a book editor in a local publishing company, I understand the need to support this industry that nurtures local writers, but on the other hand it’s difficult to do this if you can’t afford to buy its products. Unfortunately, there’s no easy way around this. If you want a locally produced book by your favourite author, you will need to save your pennies and pay for it — usually between $25 …

Ask a group of Australians to pick their favourite Australian author and you will probably hear the name ‘Tim Winton’ dropped over and over again. Repeated polls show Winton’s novel ‘Cloudstreet’ comfortably claiming the title of Australia’s favourite Australian book, and for good reason. He is one of the few local writers who truly captures the Australian voice. Winton may be popular with the public, but his beautiful writing has also garnered much critical acclaim. He has won the country’s most prestigious literary prize, the Miles Franklin Award, a record four times and two of his novels have been shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize. Despite all this, the West Australian author mostly keeps himself out of the public eye, rarely appearing in the media. I’m guessing that, despite his literary superstardom, this guy can probably walk down the street of any Australian city and go largely unrecognised. So Winton fans will be happy to hear that the man himself will be appearing for one night at the Melbourne Town Hall in a special Wheeler …

The State Library of Victoria will hold two free workshops on how to navigate the SLV’s Newspaper Reading Room. I’ve tried going it alone and it’s utterly confusing, so this workshop should be worth the time. The first workshop will be held this coming Tuesday. The second is on 2 October. Bookings are required. Newsworthy Workshop Date: 20 August and 2 October 2013 Time: 10.15am — 12.15am Venue: State Library of Victoria Address: 328 Swanston St, Melbourne Damage: free

To all the writers, poets, journalists, illustrators, critics, readers and other curious minds out there — drop what you’re doing and head to the Melbourne Writers Festival website because you’ll want to book tickets early this year. The festival program is divided into different categories including Identity & Politics; Journalism; Art, Music & Performance; Professional Development; and, of course, Literature. Click here to see a list of speakers appearing at this year’s MWF. There is also a range of great free events. Join the TV audience of the ABC’s ‘Book Club with Jennifer Byrne‘, listen to Lonely Planet founder Tony Wheeler talk about his new book Dark Lands, or see some of Australia’s most distinguished journalists discuss a myriad of issues confronting today’s media in the ‘New News‘ sessions — all for free. Tickets to most sessions are around $20, with a few high-profile sessions and professional development events costing more. Note that some of the free events require bookings — check the individual event pages for details. Melbourne Writers Festival 2013 Dates: 22 August …

Recently I mentioned that the new Australian adaptation of Tim Winton’s novel The Turning would be showing at this year’s Melbourne International Film Festival. Well, here’s another event for all you film buffs and literature lovers out there. MIFF is partnering with The Wheeler Centre to host a panel discussion with author Tim Winton plus 13 of the film’s 17 directors: Robert Connolly, Mia Wasikowska, Warwick Thornton, Shaun Gladwell, Tony Ayres, Rhys Graham, Jub Clerc, Ashlee Page, Simon Stone, Jonathan auf der Heide, Marieka Walsh, Claire McCarthy and Ian Meadows. The discussion will be moderated by journalist Sandy George. The event will be held in the wonderful Forum Theatre and all tickets for this hour-and-a-half session are $25. Book quickly because this event will probably sell out fast. Long, clear view: Tim Winton’s The Turning Date: 4 August 2013 Time: 1.30pm–3pm Venue: Forum Theatre, 154 Flinders St, Melbourne Damage: $25